PO TENT/ A LI TIES. 



329 



characteristic spear, or "wap," and in proud possession of two recently slaughtered dugong. 

 The larger of the two is a full-grown male, and the smaller one a young female. 



We may appropriately incorporate with this picture a description of the methods of 

 taking the dugong, obtained by Professor Haddon from native sources, and included by him 

 in his " Ethnography of the Western Tribes of Torres Strait." Referring first to the method 

 of capturing it from a boat, he writes as follows : — 



" When close enough, the man bearing the spear jumps into the water, at the same time 

 harpooning the dugong as it is in the act of breathing. The latter immediately dives down, and 

 runs out the rope which is fastened to the dart, the man having to be careful not to get his head 



N.4TIVE CHIEF, NOMOA, OF JERVIS ISLAND, MABUIAG, ARMED WITH LONG .SPEAR, OR 

 "WAP," WITH WHICH HE KILLED THE TWO PRCSTRATE DUGONG. 



(Reproduced from a photograph by Professor A. C. Haddon.) 



entangled in the loops of the rope, as deaths have occurred from this accident. The man returns 

 with the spear-shaft to the canoe. Other men immediately dive into the water, and when 

 the dugong once more rises to breathe they tie a second rope round its tail, and then, whenever 

 it attempts to rise, the men, by diving at the same lime, pull it down with the rope, and in a very 

 short time suffocate the unwieldy animal. So far as I know, death always occurs through 

 asphy.Kia. Owing to the thickness of the skin and blubber, and the shortness of its point, the 



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